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Instream Flow Study of the Middle and Lower Brazos River

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Instream Flow Study of the Middle and Lower Brazos River Instream Flow Study of the Middle and Lower Brazos River Draft Study Design Prepared for Middle and Lower Brazos River Sub-Basin Study Design Workgroup Prepared by TEXAS INSTREAM FLOW PROGRAM AND BRAZOS RIVER AUTHORITY MARCH 2010 Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................5 1.1 Summary of available information and results of preliminary analysis and reconnaissance surveys ...................................................................................6 1.1.1 Hydrology ...........................................................................................9 1.1.2 Biology ..............................................................................................15 1.1.3 Physical Processes ............................................................................21 1.1.4 Water Quality ....................................................................................23 1.1.5 Connectivity ......................................................................................29 1.1.6 Allens Creek Reservoir Study ...........................................................29 1.2 Assessment of Current Conditions................................................................30 1.2.1 Hydrology .........................................................................................30 1.2.2 Biology ..............................................................................................30 1.2.3 Physical Processes ............................................................................31 1.2.4 Water Quality ....................................................................................32 1.2.5 Connectivity ......................................................................................32 1.3 Conceptual Model .........................................................................................32 2.0 STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT AND STUDY DESIGN DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................35 2.1 Stakeholder Involvement ..............................................................................35 2.2 Study Goal and Objectives............................................................................35 2.2.1 Hydrology .........................................................................................35 2.2.2 Biology ..............................................................................................36 2.2.3 Physical Processes ............................................................................36 2.2.4 Water Quality ....................................................................................36 2.2.5 Connectivity ......................................................................................36 2.3 Study Indicators ............................................................................................36 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF TECHNICAL STUDIES ..................................................45 3.1 Study Site Selection ......................................................................................45 3.2 Study Components ........................................................................................51 3.2.1 Hydrology and Hydraulics ................................................................51 3.2.2 Biology ..............................................................................................55 3.2.3 Physical Processes ............................................................................63 3.2.4 Water Quality ....................................................................................65 3.2.5 Connectivity ......................................................................................67 4.0 CONTINUED STAKEHOLDER INVOLVMENT AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................68 5.0 REFERENCES .....................................................................................................71 6.0 APPENDIX ...........................................................................................................78 II List of Tables Table 1. Studies of interest to the TIFP study of the middle and lower Brazos River sub- basin. ................................................................................................................................ 8 Table 2. USGS stream gages with daily streamflow data of interest in the middle and lower Brazos River sub-basin.. ........................................................................................ 9 Table 3. Brazos River Basin reservoirs with original capacities greater than 100,000 acre-feet. ........................................................................................................................ 13 Table 4. Population data for counties with largest urban areas near the middle and lower Brazos River. ................................................................................................................. 14 Table 5. Life history and population information on fish species collected in the middle and lower Brazos River sub-basin.. ............................................................................... 16 Table 6. Biological and habitat sample site locations on the middle and lower Brazos River, Little River and Navasota River. ................................................................................... 19 Table 7. Historic occurrence, recent collection, and current status of mussel species in the Brazos River basin. .................................................................................................. 21 Table 8. Water quality data information in the middle and lower Brazos River ......................... 25 Table 9. Ecological processes supported by instream flow components of the middle and lower Brazos River. ................................................................................................ 34 Table 10. List of Hydrology indicators and their importance to the instream flow study. ............ 37 Table 11. List of Biology indicators and their importance to the instream flow study. ................ 38 Table 12. List of Physical Processes indicators and their importance to the instream flow study. ............................................................................................................................. 42 Table 13. List of Water Quality indicators and their importance to the instream flow study. ....... 43 Table 14. List of Connectivity indicators and their importance to the instream flow study .......... 44 Table 15. Description of proposed TIFP Study Areas and Reaches for the middle and lower Brazos River .................................................................................................................. 48 III List of Figures Figure 1. Map of the Brazos River basin with middle and lower Brazos River sub-basin (study boundary) depicted .......................................................................................................... 7 Figure 2. Median of daily streamflow values for USGS gage 08096500, Brazos River at Waco .............................................................................................................................. 11 Figure 3. Flow duration curves for daily average flow at USGS gage 08096500, Brazos River at Waco .......................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 4. Median of daily streamflow values for USGS gage 0811400, Brazos River at Richmond ...................................................................................................................... 12 Figure 5. Flow duration curves for daily average flow at USGS gage 0811400, Brazos River at Richmond .................................................................................................................. 12 Figure 6. Average monthly precipitation for Brenham, Texas for the periods 1903 to 1940 and 1984 to 2008 (National Climate Data Center data) ................................................ 13 Figure 7. TIFP baseline fish sampling and mussel collection sites in the middle and lower Brazos River sub-basin .................................................................................................. 20 Figure 8. Major wastewater dischargers in the middle and lower Brazos River sub-basin. ......... 26 Figure 9. Water diversion points on the middle and lower Brazos River ..................................... 27 Figure 10. SWQM monitoring sites in the middle and lower Brazos River sub-basin ................... 28 Figure 11. General conceptual model of the riverine ecosystem of the middle and lower Brazos River .................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 12. Proposed TIFP Study Areas, Reaches and Sites for the middle and lower Brazos River .............................................................................................................................. 47 Figure 13. Stages of stakeholder participation in the TIFP study of the middle and lower Brazos River .................................................................................................................. 68 IV 1.0 INTRODUCTION The Brazos River basin is one of the most diverse river basins in the state, spanning eight distinct ecoregions and rainfall conditions that vary from a mean average of 6 inches
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